Members of the Shillong Chamber Choir performing at the concert in Old Goa on Friday.
OLD GOA
Melodious music filled the air in Old Goa as the Shillong Chamber Choir enthralled the huge crowd gathered at the lawns of See Cathedral in a two-hour performance which left the audience spellbound.
And for the record, according to lead singer William Basaiawmoit, this was the first time that the group performed a two-hour Gospel concert.
Though limited to mostly presenting religious music, the unique presentation left the spectators asking for more, with each performance from the group receiving applause from the crowd.
The group kicked off the evening with the prayer ‘Our Father’ by lead singer William Basaiawmoit, followed by the Christmas carol ‘O Holy Night’ sung by Ibarisha Lyngdoh.
The songs ‘The Prayer’ and ‘You Raise Me Up’ followed, with Jessica Lyngdoh then presenting ‘Someday’.
The entire choir members then joined in singing a song in Khasi, giving tribute to their motherland.
The song ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ followed, with the choir dedicating it in memory of St Francis Xavier, a saint who has touched lives and continues to touch the lives of many.
The tempo was upped with the Christmas carol ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’ in a mixture of ancient Aramaic and English.
Donna Marthong then led the group in singing the song composed by their late founder Neil Nongkyrih.
A lively and foot-tapping song ‘Living Faith’ followed, with the song ‘Beauty’ presented next.
A Boney M classic ‘Rivers of Babylon’ followed, with the crowd joining in along with the group.
The inspirational ‘Make Me A Channel of Your Peace’, a prayer written by St Francis of Assisi, was next.
Two more songs followed by Donna Marthong and Dorea Rangad, and a lively solo ‘Oh Happy Day’ by Juhi.
The song ‘O Precious Saviour’ followed, giving thanks to the Lord, followed by a medley of Christmas carols.
And the finale song was ‘To God Be The Glory’, for which the group won the show India’s Got Talent.
But it was not the end, as then came a special request for ‘Vande Mataram’, for which the group obliged with the backdrop of See Cathedral displaying the Indian flag.
The beautiful backdrop of the Se Cathedral church with 3D projection provided a perfect setting for the world-famous group.
Earlier, Goa’s very own ‘Invox’, directed by Omar de Loiola Pereira, opened the concert with a presentation of sacred music, one of them being ‘Mari Matek Ballok Zala’, with lyrics by Manohar Rai Sardessai. They also performed ‘Sam Francisku Xaviera’ in their own unique style.
However, the evening started with the 3D projection show based on the life of St Francis Xavier.
Exposition Secretariat Commissioner Sandeep Jacques welcomed the gathering, while Exposition Convenor for the Archdiocese Fr Henry Falcao proposed the vote of thanks, and Zeeba Keegal was the compere for the programme.
